Arce -- This is How Ice Cream Should Taste Like

It has been expressed more than once or twice in this blog that I am into cakes and Ruy's into ice creams. It's been a clear and clean delineation. It has worked well for us. I can eat my cake without having to share much with Ruy (imagine me rubbing my palms grinning in selfish delight) while Ruy can do the same with his ice cream.

Our peaceful world of dessert sharing was shattered when Mr. Manila Boy himself opened our eyes to the delights of Arce Ice Cream. He convinced us directly by telling us that they make really good ice cream and indirectly (you should have seen him devouring his ice cream sandwich made out of arce ice cream, it looked almost sinful).

The next day after meeting with Doc Chef and Spanx, Ruy trekked to the nearest grocery store to find a pint of Arce Ice Cream. Ruy took a bite and made a sound which sounded like "Uhm uhm uhm" with matching eyes wide open and a smile on his face. Score one for Manila Boy.

I was hesitant. I am not into ice creams and find most of the local brands to be too artificial. I don't know if any of you can relate to this but I find most local ice creams to be not cold enough. So I take one reluctant taste and boy was I blown away. For the first time ever...I asked Ruy to share his ice cream with me.

From that point on, it has become a staple during our trips to the grocery. Here are the flavors we've tried:

Orange - I love this but Ruy can't stand it. It tastes exactly like the Orange Freeze from Pancake House (which was a fave of mine when I was younger). For people like Ruy who are not into citrus, this is not for you.

Caramel - Love, love, love, love, love this. Oh and did I mention that I love it? Ruy looked for this as Spanx recommended it and this is the flavor which got us both hooked on Arce's Ice Cream.

Dark Chocolate - Ruy's current favorite and I'd have to admit that it's to die for. The best way for me to describe it is by asking you all to go back into your childhood. Remember those Chocolait Drinks which comes in those huge glass bottles? Take the taste of those, make them richer and add more chocolate...then turn them into ice cream. (Ruy said that he felt like he was tasting chocolate ice cream for the first time)

I'd have to quote the film P.S. I Love You...with one bite of this ice cream, life as we knew it ended. =)

Coffee Crumble - this was good but nothing out of the ordinary.

Ube - a creamier version of this popular filipino flavor.

We still have other flavors on our must try list: Dark Caramel, Avocado and Buko Lychee. We'll update you once we've tasted more.

Half Moon Crazy

HOW TO ENSNARE RICH, OOZING CHOCOLATE IN A BIBINGKA

In a pan, cook golden bibingka batter and wait till it starts to pulsate and beat, until bubbles are awakened and start dancing on its surface.

With lightning fast speed, carve the solidified batter out of the pan and plop it on a chopping board. Grate some cheese into the hollow to form a soft cushion which immediately after, scoops of chocolate pellets shall then depress.

Take a deep breath and admire the resulting mound of sin in progress.

With a final flurry of inspiration, indulge further with a web of sweet condensed milk.

Flip the other half of the bibingka over to complete the Half Moon. Cut into six parts for easy handling.

The result: An ingenious dessert that's quite heavy and amazingly good. The chocolate pellets melt and meld with the the cheese and condensed milk resulting in a flavor that is bitter and sweet with an undertone of saltiness. Sensations that are conveyed to the mouth via the soft and moist bibingka followed by a rich, warm ooze. An Indonesian specialty I believe, called Martabak.

Liv and I usually find ourselves eating this in the car, on the way home after a long, busy but fun day together. A fitting finale to cap another blessed moment in our married life. Another beautiful day spent until it yields itself to an equally beautiful evening under the shining half moon.







The Half Moon stall we frequent is at SM The Block beside the escalators on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Unfortunately, this is the only Half Moon branch I know of. Half Moon/Martabak is also served (where else) in Martabak Indonesian resto at the top floor of The Block. I like them both but for take out dessert, the Half Moon is quicker and more accessible (I'd love to talk about the other authentic Indonesian offerings in Martabak but I'll save that for another post).